Chlorine inhalation: the big picture.
Publication/Presentation Date
1-1-1998
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Causes of acute chlorine exposures from community pool accidents have many reported etiologies. This case series involves 13 children exposed to high levels of chlorine at two community pools after an unusual mishap in the chlorination maintenance procedure.
CASE REPORT: During maintenance, the water feeding lines to pools are normally turned off, the chemicals replaced, the water turned back on, and the chemicals then reinjected into the line. In two separate disasters in the summer of 1996, the feeding lines were not reprimed with water before the reactants, sodium hypochlorite and muriatic acid, were injected. This caused an unusually high volume of concentrated chlorinated water to be released when refed to the pool.
RESULTS: All patients were treated with beta agonists and humidified oxygen, and five were admitted. None received bicarbonate inhalation. An extensive literature review of chlorine inhalation injuries indicates considerable variance in opinions of the pathophysiology, clinical presentation and treatment modalities, especially steroids and bicarbonate inhalation.
CONCLUSION: In community pools, failure to reprime feeding lines with water after replacing and injecting chlorinating reactants may result in severe and large-scale chlorine exposures. Beta agonist administration and humidified oxygen remains the mainstay of treatment; steroid therapy and bicarbonate inhalation are still inadequately supported.
Volume
36
Issue
1-2
First Page
87
Last Page
93
ISSN
0731-3810
Published In/Presented At
Sexton, J. D., & Pronchik, D. J. (1998). Chlorine inhalation: the big picture. Journal of toxicology. Clinical toxicology, 36(1-2), 87–93. https://doi.org/10.3109/15563659809162593
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences
PubMedID
9541051
Department(s)
Department of Emergency Medicine
Document Type
Article